Farley no vote sent 'terrible' message, supervisor says

A Milwaukee County Board committee vote to deny confirmation to Patrick Farley -- the top staff aide to County Executive Chris Abele -- sent a "terrible" message and should be reversed, Supervisor Joe Sanfelippo said Friday.

He's convinced the 4-3 vote against Farley by the board's finance committee Thursday was spurred by Farley's role in a sting operation against former Supervisor Johnny L. Thomas Jr., despite some supervisors' suggestion that wasn't the motive.

"It's obvious, no matter what they say, it has to do with (Farley's) involvement in the Thomas issue," Sanfelippo said.

County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic issued a statement after Thursday's vote against Farley in which she said "it would be wrong for anybody to inject external matters into this debate." She noted that no one had brought up "external judicial concerns" during the Farley vote.

Farley agreed to secretly videotape Thomas accepting an envelope with $500 in cash last December purportedly offered as a bribe. Thomas now faces felony bribery and misconduct charges.

"How does it look when you're the Finance and Audit Committee, you're supposed to be the watchdogs on the board, and you're going to hang the guy who brought some potential impropriety to the forefront?" Sanfelippo asked.